Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will prioritize the development of Kogi Inland waterways and Ajaokuta Steel company if he becomes the next president.
Atiku stressed that the Inland port is not just important to Kogi state only but a strategic business gateway for the entire Northern Nigeria.
The former Vice President made the commitment on Saturday at Lokoja, Kogi state when the PDP Presidential campaign train arrived in the state.
Accompanied by former Vice President Nnamadi Sambo, former Kogi State governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada and several party leaders, Atiku said that Kogi state workers will enjoy improved welfare and regular salary when PDP returns to power.
He said, “Most of the challenges have been enumerated by previous speakers, one of them is the issue of Ajaokuta. I want to confirm here that if you give us your support and elect a PDP government, the nightmare of Ajaokuta will be a thing of the past. I assure you this and it is a promise I have made on behalf of PDP.
“I also want to promise you that the issue of your inland port is not only a Kogi issue, but issue of Northern Nigeria, because through the development of the port in Kogi, we also will have access to the maritime transportation in this country, so it is not a Kogi matter, it is our matter for the entire north of the country. I promise you we will implement that program.
“Let me also assure you that if you vote for PDP, there will be no more salary areas in Kogi State, because we will support Kogi state to make sure nobody is owned salaries. From what I have seen from Obajana up to Lokoja, it is thousands of young men and women, we will give you jobs, if we don’t give you jobs, we will give you business to do, I promise to set aside ten billion US dollars to empower our young men and women so that they can live comfortable live”.
While pledging to end industrial action by University lectures, Atiku said that he will ensure that the level of economic damage and poverty perpetuated in the system by the ruling party will come to an end with a PDP government.
Adding his voice, National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu said that the dreams of the founding fathers in making Ajaokuta Iron and Steel company and export hub for iron and steel will be actualised under Atiku’s presidency.
According to him, “PDP is coming back. PDP will be back to improve everything that we started. Not many people know that we have spent trillions in Ajakuta in the importation of iron and steel products yet we have the capacity to export all these to the world. When PDP takes over you will see exactly of what we are capable of doing”
Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the Campaign council and governor of Akwa Ibom state, Gov. Udom Emmanuel pointed out the what has held Kogi state down has been lack of leadership but assured residents of Kogi that a PDP government will improve the infrastructure of the state.
“The only problem is that we need a business man like Atiku that we give you policies that will encourage people all over the world to come and exploit, extract and bring wealth to Kogi. The only person that will do that for you is Atiku Abubakar.
“I am sure many of you are not happy with the federal road network in the state because this is the center of Nigeria but with Atiku, he will link Kogi state with other parts of Nigeria. Because of the central nature of Kogi state, he has promised that he will concentrate on major road networks and if we have infrastructure, it will be easy to develop Kogi more than this”.
The Campaign Director General and governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal said that Atiku is the leading of all the Frontline Presidential candidates and the most business friendly.
He said, “Atiku Abubakar of all the leading Presidential candidates, is the most preferred and the most prepared and for you the people of Kogi, he is the most business friendly.
“He will come and complete not only the Ajaokuta in its true sense but ensure that many factories and industries come up in Kogi by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, for jobs to be created, for employment to be created and for the economy of Kogi state to be rejuvenated”.
He said that Atiku has the capacity to pilot the affairs of Nigeria, restore security and repositioned the country through restructuring, for full economic recovery.
